“Removing Fear with Salt” — A Traditional Cypriot Spiritual Practice

MEGARON C

10:00-10:50 | Marina Konstantinou | Table: 41 | Tel: 96515356

The ritual known in Cypriot tradition as “removing fear with salt” was practiced on the island for many generations and formed part of the traditional spiritual customs associated with Cypriot folk spirituality.

It was regarded as a serious and meaningful ritual, passed down from generation to generation and preserved through the centuries. It reflected the way Cypriot communities traditionally understood spiritual protection, emotional balance, and the restoration of a person’s inner well-being. Unfortunately, today this practice has largely disappeared and survives mainly through the memories, stories, and knowledge of older generations.

The “fear” referred to in this tradition was not limited to specific phobias. In traditional understanding, it could describe a much broader state of emotional and spiritual disturbance, including intense anxiety, panic attacks, sleeplessness, inner unrest, or what was perceived as negative energy.